There was media frenzy Sunday on the University of Arkansas campus, but this time it had nothing to do with ousted football coach Bobby Petrino.

This time, former President Bill Clinton was the reason for all the excitement.

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Clinton, an Arkansas native, was the keynote speaker for the Dale and Betty Bumpers Lecture Program, which drew several distinguished guests to the Verizon Ballroom.

Last year, the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences celebrated its 15th year. On Sunday night, Clinton was on the Arkansas campus to mark another milestone as the inaugural speaker for the agriculture college's Distinguished Lecture Program, 40/29's Craig Cannon reported.

Chancellor David Gearhart welcomed Clinton with a listing of the former president's accomplishments and a personal note.

"...Two-term president of the United States; five-time governor; attorney general of Arkansas ... Dave Gearhart's law professor -- sorry, Mr. President," Gearhart said.

The chancellor also mentioned Clinton's work since leaving public office in countries such as Haiti and across Africa.

Clinton emphasized the major differences between rich, medium and poor countries.

"Poor people are just as smart as we are, and probably work harder to keep body and soul together," he said. "But they do not have the systems we have -- that we take for granted.

"They don't systems that make life predictable. You make life predictable; you get predictable, positive consequences to good conduct."

Cannon said after the speech, students were able to ask the president questions. One of the questions was near and dear to Clinton's heart.

"Most of the credit for Rwanda, for what they've done, belongs to them," he said. "Because they have the best organized country in Africa. Smallest geographically, and one of the most densely populated. But when I went to Rwanda four years after the genocide in 1998, the per capita income was $268 -- under $1 a day."

But due to programs such as the one Clinton is involved in, the per capita income is now more than $1,150. And president said that shows what can happen when a country has systems in place.

"What touched me the most was he had such a personal investment in the people of Rwanda," said UA freshman Ellen Rudolph. "And not just for his own policies, but truly for the betterment of the people and for the planet itself."

"It was surreal, kind of," said freshman Peter Vayda. "I mean, he's the president. To be a part of this is amazing."

The lecture series hopes to continue to emphasize health and development of children and families both in the United States and around the world, Cannon said.